Quick Release Adjustable Strap Clamp

ABSTRACT

A strap clamp includes a housing which is attached to an end of an elongated strap band. The housing pivotally support a screw member, the threads of which engage and drive the strap band to tighten or loosen the strap band. The screw member may be pivoted away from the strap band to disengage screw threads and release the strap band. The housing is attached to the strap band via elongated slots which have a minimal impact on the strength of the strap band.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of strap clamps and more particularly to a quick release adjustable strap clamps which is capable of accommodating relatively high levels of applied torque.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art related to strap clamps and hose clamps includes a range of devices in which an elongated flexible steel strap includes a plurality of slots. A housing attached to an end of the strap supports a screw member, the threads of which engage the slots. Rotating the screw member draws the strap through the housing thereby tightening the clamp in the general manner of a worm drive.

A recently developed application for this type of strap clamp is related to the attachment of various types of signs such as traffic signs to vertical posts or column masts. The advantages of such strap clamps include the elimination of a need to drill holes in the mast for insertion of bolts or other fasteners and the consequent elimination of a source of corrosion and potential weakness in the mast.

The application of a screw type of clamp has also eliminated the need for the use of various heavy and cumbersome tools to attach various signage to the vertical mast, thereby resulting in a reduction in labor with a desirable reduction in cost. However, the use of strap clamps for the attachment of signs has resulted in a need for a strap clamp which can withstand a higher level of applied torque than the levels of torque which can be applied to conventional strap clamps without incurring the danger of the conventional strap clamp breaking. These increased levels of applied torque are required to provide sufficient clamping force to withstand environmental effects including heat, cold and especially wind forces. The conventional strap clamp typically includes a housing which supports the tightening screw. In the construction of typical prior art strap clamps, the attachment of the housing to the strap member has required the formation of various relatively large apertures in the strap to attach the housing with the consequent formation of areas of unwanted stress concentration and weakness in the strap.

A desirable feature in strap clamps is the provision of a quick release feature to facilitate the rapid loosening and repositioning of the strap clamp.

Despite the developments of the prior art there remains a need for an effective quick release strap clamp which can withstand increased levels of applied torque and which can provide increased clamping capability combined with a quick release feature.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a quick release strap clamp which is capable of accommodating increased levels of applied torque as compared with conventional strap clamps.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a quick release strap clamp in which a screw member can pivot relative to a screw housing to provide a release feature.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a quick release strap clamp in which a minimum number and size of apertures are formed in the strap resulting in increased strength.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a quick release strap clamp in which a relatively small number of simple components are utilized resulting in reliable long term operation.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a quick release strap clamp which includes a slotted strap and a housing which supports a screw member, the threads of which engage the slots so that rotation of the screw can tighten or loosen the strap. The screw member is disposed to pivot relative to the housing in addition to rotating relative to the housing. The screw member can be pivoted so that the screw threads are out of mesh with the slots in the slotted strap and the tension on the strap is released. The housing is connected to the strap by a pair of spaced apart tabs which pass through a pair of elongated apertures formed in the slotted strap and are bent around an end portion of the slotted strap.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although variations and modifications may be affected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a quick release adjustable strap clamp made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view similar to FIG. 1 showing the screw member pivoted to release the strap member;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the end of the strap similar to FIG. 4 with the housing member removed;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom view similar to FIG. 5 showing the strap member according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings there is shown in FIGS. 1-7, a primary embodiment of a quick release adjustable strap clamp 10 according to the present invention which includes a strap band 12, a housing member 14 and a pivotally mounted screw member 16.

The strap band 12 is an elongated member which has a plurality of slots 18 formed in an orientation which is generally transverse or at a selected angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the strap band 12. The spacing between the slots 18 is uniform and generally corresponds to the pitch or spacing between the crests 20 of the threads 22 which are formed on the screw member 16.

The correspondence between the pitch of the threads 22, of the screw member 16 and the spacing of the slots 18 enables the screw member 16 to engage the strap band 12 and drive the strap band 12 in the manner of a worm drive as will be presently described.

The screw member 16 has a head portion 24 which includes a conventional driving connection such as a slotted portion 26 or a hexagonal portion 28.

The strap band 12 is a continuous elongated member as is shown schematically in FIG. 1. The first end 82 of the strap band 12 passes under the screw member 16 and the housing member 14 is attached to the second end 84.

As is best shown in FIG. 3, the housing member 14 is preferably formed of a single sheet of steel and includes a top portion 30, side portions 32 and 34, bottom portions 36 and 38 and attachment tabs 40 and 42. The attachment tabs 40 and 42 pass through a pair of elongated slots 44 and 46, one each, which are formed in the end portion 50 of the strap band 12 as is shown in FIG. 5. After passing through the slots 44 and 46 shown in FIG. 5, the end portions 48 and 50 of the tabs 40 and 42 are bent over the strap band 12 thereby forming a secure attachment between the housing member 14 and the strap band 12.

The arrangement of the elongated slots 44 and 46 form an important feature of the present invention. The elongated slots 44 and 46 are each longitudinally disposed relative to the strap band 12 and are each relatively narrow in configuration with each of the slots 44 and 46 having a width just sufficient to accept the thickness of the tabs 40 and 42. This configuration of the elongated slots 44 and 46 removes the minimum amount of material from the strap band 12 and therefore has a minimum impact on the resistance of the strap band 12 to tensile forces occurring during use. The tensile forces on the strap band 12 during use are shown by the arrows 70 and 72 in FIG. 5.

The housing member 14 supports a screw plate 52 which rotationally engages the end 54 of the screw member 16. The end 56 of the screw member 16 passes through an aperture 58 in the screw plate 52 and is peened to form a head portion 60 thereby preventing removal of the screw member 16 from the screw plate 52.

The screw plate 52 is pivotally mounted within the housing member 14 by means of a pair of integrally formed oppositely directed axle portions 62 and 64 the ends of which lodge in recess portions 66 and 68 in the side portions 32 and 34 of the housing member 14. The recess portions 66 and 68 prevent disconnection of the screw plate 52 from the housing member 14 while allowing rotation of the screw plate 52 relative to the housing member 14.

The screw member 16 may be rotated or pivoted relative to the housing member 14 in the direction shown by the arrow 80 in FIG. 2 to disengage the threads 22 from the slots 18 thereby quickly releasing the tension in the strap clamp 10.

The relatively narrow elongated slots 44 and 46 and the strap band 12 may be compared with the prior art strap hand 200 shown in FIG. 7. In the prior art strap band 200, a relatively large aperture 202 is formed in the end portion 204. The aperture 202 includes recessed portions 206, 208, 210 and 212 which serve to position attachment tabs (which are not illustrated) but which are similar to the attachment tabs 40 and 42. In the prior art, the attachment tabs 40 and 42 are lodged in the recess portions 206, 208, 210 and 212 and are bent over the strap band 200 in the manner previously described in connection with FIG. 3. The large aperture 202 leaves only the relatively small amount of strap material in the areas indicated by reference numerals 214 and 216 to resist the tensile forces indicated by the arrows 218 and 220. The large aperture 202 thus significantly weakens the prior art strap band 200.

The above specific embodiments of the present invention as set forth in the specification herein is for illustrative purposes only. Various deviation and modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention, without departing from a main theme thereof. 

1. A quick release adjustable strap clamp comprising: an elongated strap member having a plurality of slots with said elongated strap member having a first end and a second end; a housing; attachment means for attachment of said housing to said first end of said strap member; a screw plate pivotally mounted in said housing; a screw member having an end portion with said end portion rotationally connected to said screw plate, with said screw member having a plurality of threads engaging and forming a driving connection with said plurality of slots and with said screw member and said screw plate pivoting to disengage said screw threads from said plurality of slots, wherein said attachment means comprises: a pair of tab portions formed on said housing, and a pair of slots formed on said strap member with said pair of slots disposed to accept said pair of tabs.
 2. The quick release adjustable strap clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said tab portions passes through one of said slots.
 3. The quick release adjustable strap clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pair of slots is disposed longitudinally relative to said strap member.
 4. The quick release adjustable strap clamp as claimed in claim 1 wherein said slots are spaced apart. 